Illuminating the Stage: Kade Mendelowitz on Theatrical Design, Technology, and Community
Kade Mendelowitz served as the Set & Projection Designer for the Fall 2024 草榴社区 Department of Theatre & Film production of Tiny Beautiful Things.
For over 30 years, Professor Kade Mendelowitz has been a beacon in the world of entertainment design at the University of 草榴社区 Fairbanks. As a dedicated professor, Mendelowitz has shaped generations of students in lighting and set design, blending cutting-edge technology with traditional theatrical techniques. His work has earned recognition across various media, including a feature in CBS News 13鈥檚 Golden Art City series in 2018, which highlighted his profound influence on the industry and Fairbanks鈥 arts community.
A Career Defined by Innovation
Mendelowitz鈥檚 work has spanned multiple disciplines, from stage productions and television news to dance performances and even Olympic ice sculpture trials. His extensive experience across these fields has given him a unique perspective on how design principles adapt to different mediums. As technology continues to advance, he has remained at the forefront of innovation, integrating new tools and techniques into his work.
When asked about the evolution of lighting and multimedia design, he emphasized how technological advancements have continuously shaped his approach to both design and teaching.
鈥淟ighting design is constantly evolving, and with increasing speed. As energy efficiency has become more mainstream; incandescent light (which has a beautiful full-spectrum Color Rendering Index / CRI) is being replaced by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) which are more efficient and durable but is much more expensive for the color and intensities used in Entertainment,鈥 he explains. 鈥淚 frequent industry conferences to learn about what鈥檚 new and available and make efforts to include current developments into my classes.鈥
Beyond staying up to date with lighting advancements, Mendelowitz also seeks innovative ways to improve his teaching methods and enhance student learning.
鈥淎t a United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) conference I attended a one-hour session about using multimedia in the classroom which changed my outlook on teaching lighting deeply,鈥 he recalls. 鈥淚t inspired me to create an interactive multimedia CD (later DVD, now online) course (aka 鈥榯extbook鈥) because I felt 鈥榳ell, this is the way to teach about lighting鈥欌 interactive, with videos, animations and unlimited color photographs as examples. I鈥檓 most proud of a virtual 鈥榤ini light lab鈥 which allows users to test different color and angle combinations reasonably accurately on their computer screens.鈥
His dedication to modernizing education extends beyond course content. He continuously evaluates different course formats to ensure students remain engaged and have access to the most effective learning environments.
鈥淲hile most of my design courses are face-to-face, I鈥檝e found certain courses (like Digital Video Editing and Sound Design for the Entertainment Industry) work better as online, asynchronous offerings,鈥 he notes. 鈥淚 embrace new technology and pedagogy whenever possible 鈥 though it鈥檚 expensive and time-consuming.鈥
Ground plan, Tiny Beautiful Things
3D render, Tiny Beautiful Things
Card model, Tiny Beautiful Things
Painting elevations, Tiny Beautiful Things
The Fairbanks Theatre Scene: A Community of Creativity
Beyond 草榴社区, Kade Mendelowitz plays a vital role in the Fairbanks arts community. Since arriving from New York, he has made significant contributions to a variety of local organizations, including the Fairbanks Light Opera Theatre (FLOT), Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, and NorthStar Ballet. Notably, he designed the rain wagon for Singin' in the Rain, a production that allowed performers to dance in real water on a set that could be moved by just two people鈥攕howcasing his inventive approach to both technical design and storytelling.
Mendelowitz is also a leader in multimedia production, creating educational tools like Theatrical Lighting Design Interactive and Theatrical Sound Design Interactive, both of which are used internationally. His work extends beyond the theater, as he has developed websites and multimedia resources for arts organizations, including the Summer Arts Festival, and even designed a CD-ROM for 草榴社区鈥檚 student recruitment.
In 2004, Mendelowitz received 草榴社区's prestigious Usibelli Award for Service, recognizing his tireless contributions to the university and the Fairbanks arts scene. 'The cold weather might drive people indoors, but it also brings them together,' he reflects. 'The desire to build community through artistic expression is a core part of what makes Fairbanks such a vibrant place to live.'
Looking to the Future
Kade Mendelowitz is always looking ahead, eager to integrate new technologies into his work and teaching. 鈥淟ooking toward the future, I鈥檓 excited about the possibilities of integrating Unreal Engine and virtual environments into design classes and perhaps our film production workflows,鈥 he says. Unreal Engine, a powerful real-time 3D design software, allows for the creation of highly detailed virtual environments and simulations. This opens up new opportunities for students to explore virtual sets and lighting design in ways that were previously limited to expensive, physical setups, providing a cost-effective way to experiment with complex production techniques.
Additionally, Mendelowitz hopes to secure funding for more 鈥渋ntelligent lighting fixtures鈥 that can move and change color remotely, enhancing the creative possibilities for both his teaching and the productions at 草榴社区. These advanced lighting technologies are increasingly used in large-scale performances and film, and integrating them into 草榴社区鈥檚 curriculum would give students hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools.
Looking to the physical space where many of these innovations will take place, Mendelowitz is also excited about the ongoing upgrades to the Salisbury Theatre. 鈥淗opefully the Salisbury Theatre complex will finish its fire code upgrades within the next two years,鈥 he notes. Once these safety upgrades are completed, he hopes the next step will be to improve the facility's infrastructure, potentially opening the door to even more advanced production possibilities. 鈥淭he future can look bright, indeed!鈥 he adds, full of optimism for what鈥檚 to come.
Save the Date: STRIKE! Opens March 21st
Currently, Mendelowitz is deeply involved as the technical director for 草榴社区鈥檚 upcoming production, STRIKE!: A Musical and Dramatic Revue, which will open on March 21st. The production runs on the following dates: Friday, March 21 & Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 PM; Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 PM; Friday, March 28 & Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 PM. Tickets will be available in the coming weeks, and audiences can expect a visually dynamic and compelling production, brought to life by a team of dedicated students and faculty.
草榴社区 the 草榴社区 Department of Theatre & Film
The 草榴社区 Department of Theatre & Film is dedicated to fostering creativity, technical excellence, and storytelling through both performance and production. Students gain hands-on experience in stagecraft, acting, directing, and film production, preparing them for careers in the entertainment industry while enriching the vibrant Fairbanks arts community. Under the guidance of professors like Mendelowitz, students are continually challenged to push boundaries, embracing both traditional and cutting-edge technologies to shape their craft and future careers.